Toaster casing



Feb. 9, 1937.

M. IRELAND TOASTER CASING Filed Nov. 9, 1935 Ill 2 Sh w-sheet 1 v INVENTOR. MURRAY [REL-6ND ATTORNEY.

Feb. 9, 1937. M. IRELAND TOASTER GAS ING Filed Nov." 9 1955 2 She ets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. Mug 99y A=. 6WD BY 707 ATTORNEY.

. Patented Feb. 9, 1937 STATS TOASTER CASING Application November 9, 1935, Serial No. 49,001

i in ro 13 Claims. (01. 53-5) My invention relates to electric oven type similar devices and particularly electric cooking toasters and particularly to casings for such appliances. toasters, Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and An object of my invention is to provide a rel- 3 of the drawings, I have there illustrated an 3 atively simple casing construction. for an elecoven type toaster designated in its entirety by the 5 tric toaster that shall be easily manufactured and numeral H and comprising a base l3, a bottom assembled and comprise a minimum number of cover I5 for the base, a toas Chamber 1 parts. toaster frame structure designated in its entirety Another object of my invention is to provide by the numeral H, a single-piece thin sheet ma- 0 a casing for an oven type toaster comprising esterial casing 19, and a top cover 2|. 1o

sentially two parts interfitting with each other The base l3, as will be seen by reference to at certain edge portions. Figs, 1 and 2 of the drawings, includes more par- Another object of my invention is to provide ticularly a fia iet D member having dow wa da casing having a top cover held in its proper opy extending Peripheral flange 23 to which the erative position and against a toaster frame bottom c u member cove! is adapted 130 structure by a casing extending around the frame ThiS bottom COVQ y be P d wi h a structure and between the cover and a base for plurali y f h a n i pp 2 n O der the toaster frame tr etur to slightly raise the bottomcover above a. sup- Other objects will either be pointed out in the Porting Surfacecourse of the description of several forms of The toasting chamber Structure c ud s a 20 casing structures or will be apparent from the deplurality of Vertically extending relatively thin scription itself, sheets of electric-insulating material 21, here In practicing my invention I provide in com- Shown as four in number in Order to accommobin ti t toasting chamber Structure, date two slices of bread at the same time, and 5 base located beneath the structure, a top cover having $66111" ed thereon an electric resistor Wire located above the structure and a casing sur- 9, the greater Portion of which is 0 the inner rounding th structure interfitting t t base side of the respective sheets of material in order and the top cover to hold the cover in its proper that it may be located adjacent to Oneyside of operative position on t toasting chamber structhe slice of bread which is to be toasted thereby.

t and t hold the casing on the base The lower end portions of the respective sheets 30 In t drawings 2? may be held in their properpperative posi- Figure 1 is a view, in vertical longitudinal sections by upstanding tabs which may be tion, through a toaster assembly. embodying my Punched out of and bent away from the top P invention, tion of the base l3, alternate tabs 3| being slight- Fig. 2 is a view in vertical lateral section theredisplaced out of line with the Others as may through, taken on the line 1, be seen by reference to the bottom portions of Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view 2 of the drawmgs so that the bottom edges therethrough, taken on the line of Fig 1, of the sheets 21 may fit therebetween. The up- Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view per ends of the Sheets 21 be i by one or showing a modified form of construction which more top plates 33 extending longltudinany of 40 I may use the toaster and here shown as being entirely separate one from the other and resting upon a is a top 1 castng and top lateral inner rear plate 35 and a lateral front cover n proper relative operative positions, plate 31, the lower ends of which may be secured 4-, Fig. 6 is a partial view, in side elevation, of the to the'upper part f base |3 as by bending over P t Shown in 5, and ears or tabs 39 as is shown in the lower part of 7 s a fra m ta y s tional view t u Fig. 1 of the drawings. The front part of a top one corner of a casing. plate 33 may be secured to the front plate 31 by My invention, as has already been stated, comshort, machine screws 40. Instead of using two prises more particularly a casing structure and top plates I may combine them into one plate.

I will describe the same as applied to a two slice The toasting chamber structure mounted on vertical toaster of a particular construction and the base l3 includes also longitudinally extendmethod of operation, although it is of course obing inner side walls M and 43 which may be vious that the parts particularly embodying my made of relatively thin sheet material, such as invention canbe applied equally well to other aluminum or other suitable metal. The front 55 and rear plates 35 and 311 are held in proper operative and spaced positions by means of a plurality of rods 65 extending therethrough at the upper edge thereof and having nuts ill screwed thereon on the outside of the plates 35 and iii.

A plurality of depending guide wires 59 are provided having interfitting engagement with the top plates 33 and depending therefrom. These bread slice guide wires interfit also with bread slice supports 51 which extend between the front and rear inner plates 3? and 35 and have portions extending therethrough. Thus a rear end portion 53 of the respective plates 5! extends through a slot 55 in the rear inner end plate 35 and a part thereof extends through a similar slot 51 in the front inner plate 37 to have certain parts secured thereto as will be hereinafter described.

A mechanical timer or spring driven clock is indicated generally by a rectangle designated by the numeral 59 in Fig. 1 of the drawings and may be of the type shown in my Patent No. 1,866,808, assigned by mesneassignments to the same assignee as is the present application. This timing mechanism is effective to release the bread slice supports 5! from their operative positions and also to deenergize the resistors 29 in a manner now to be briefly described mainly for the purpose of describing parts already well known with which the casing more particularly constituting my invention is associated.

A plurality of horizontally spaced vertically extending rods 6! are located in a small mechanism compartment 63, shown more particularly in Fig. 1 of the drawings, having their lower ends secured to the top part of base I3 and their upper ends to a forwardly extending part of the top plates 33. Means for depressing the bread slice supports 5| and for energizing the resistors 29 includes an external operating knob mounted on the front end of a horizontally forwardly extending bar 61 which is operatively secured to the bread slicesupport 5| hereinbefore described. A plate 69 having an angularly extending slot H therein (see Fig. 1) is operatively associated with the bread slice support 5| and the bar 61 and has movable therein the pin 13 secured in the upper end of a contact arm 75 pivotally mounted on a plate Tl secured to'the front inner plate 37,

the lower end of the arm 15 having mounted therein a contact member 19 which may be of carbon and which may cooperate with a fixed contact member 8| held in a plate 83 insulatedly mounted against the front surface of inner plate 31. Suitable leads or wires, not shown in the drawings, connect the fixed contact member 8| and the contact arm 15 in series circuit relation with the resistor wires 29 and a twin conductor cord 85 is provided extending through the casing I9 at the rear of the toaster and connected to a pair of terminals 81, as is shown more particularly in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The supply cir- -cuit conductor may extend through the rear wall of casing l9 through a bushing 89 in a manner well known in the art.

When pressure is applied on the knob 65 to move the hereinbefore described elements downwardly, a plurality of rollers 91 engaging the rods 6| permit of easy and quick downward movement by manually applied pressure against the tension of a spring 93, one end of which is connected to a part of the top portion of base l3 while the other end is connected to the lower end of an arm depending from a longitudinally extending arm 91 which is pivotally mounted as amazes at 89 on the rear plate 35. The bread slice supports 5! and the other vertically movable parts directly operatively associated therewith are held in their lowermost operative positions by a latch member Hli (see Fig. 1) against the tension of spring 93. The downward movement of actuating knob 65 winds up the spring in the timer 523, which timer is effective after a certain length of time to release the bread slice supports from the latch till, the spring 93 then returning them to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, so that slices of bread located thereon may project upwardly through openings H33 in the toaster structure and be removed by an operator.

As has already hereinbefore been set forth, these elements constitute no part of my present invention and have been illustrated and described in order to show the application of my new and improved casing structure to these parts. It will be noted by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings that I provide a shouldered flange use around substantially the entire peripheral portion of the base l3 and in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the vertically extending shoulder is adapted to be located inside of the lower edge of the casing I9. I prefer to make the casing 19 of a single piece of punched and shaped sheet metal which may be provided with panels till, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 6 of the drawings, the abutting ends or vertical edges of the single piece of sheet metal meeting at a corner thereof and being welded together as shown by numeral H19 in Fig. 7 of the drawings. While I at present prefer to make this joint at a corner of the casing, which it will be noted from the drawings is substantially rectangular in contour, I do not desire to be limited thereto. I prefer to make the joint at a corner since it provides an easy means for removing any excess material which may be deposited at the joint outside of the casing during the various steps of manufacturing the casing itself. This is a desirable feature since a casing of this kind must be very carefully finished and electroplated in order to provide a pleasing appearance. The panels shown and described are not an essential part of my invention and could be omitted, thus providing a flat surface.

The casing is further provided with a number of spaced depending ears or lugs 0H for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. The upper end portion of the casing is provided with an inturned flange H3 which extends entirely around the upper edge of the casing 89.

The peripheral edge portion of the top cover 21 is also provided with a shouldered outwardly extending flange H5 which is adapted to fit beneath the inturned flange H3 at the upper edge of the casing.

In assembling the outer casing, the top cover 2| is located in its proper operative position in the upper end of casing l9. substantially in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, after which the casing is located in its proper operative position around the toasting chamber structure and on the' base, the lower edge of the casing fitting outside of the shouldered peripheral flange I05 provided on the base I3, as will be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. It is of course to be understood that the actuating knob 65 is not mounted on the arm 61 at the time that the, casing is mounted on the base as has just been described. The ears HI are then either twisted or bent over the base 13 suitable openings Ill being provided in the base through which these cars may extend. In so doing the cover member H is drawn downwardly against the upper end portions of the toasting chamber structure hereinbefore described and particularly against the top plates 33. It is to be understood that a downward pressure on the casing will be applied thereto so that the lower edge of casing is will fit closely against the upper surface of the base l3 in order to present a pleasing appearance.

Referring now to Fig. 4 of the drawings, I have there illustrated a slightly modified form of base H9 in which a vertical flange I2! is located immediately outside of the casing l9 instead of inside thereof as is shown inFlgsr l and 2 of the,

drawings, thereby providing a construction covering he lower edge of the casing It.

A rear knob I23 is secured to the casing in order that the toaster may be carried when and as may be necessary.

Any desired method of connecting the plurality of individual heating elements may be provided and I have shown a plurality of laterally extending electric connecting means P25 and 121 (see Fig. 2 of the drawings) to electrically connect the resistors on the various heating elements, which in this case are connected in parallel'circuit relation relatively to each other.

The casing structure embodying my invention and comprising more particularly the single piece casing l9 and the top cover 2| provides a relatively simple outer casing for an oven type of toaster which can be easily manufactured and assembled, which interflt with each other and in which the casing interfits with the base in such manner as to be securely held thereon and to draw or pull downwardly the top cover whereby it is caused to rest upon and engage the upper end of the toaster frame or toasting chamber structure, thedepending ears or lugs I ll extending into and through the base It providing an easy and effective means for holding the casing against the base and for also holding the top cover in its proper operative position within the casing and on the toasting chamber structure.

Various modifications may be made in the device embodying my invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and I desire that all such modifications shall be included under the present claims which are to be limited only by the prior art. a

I claim as my invention:

l. A toaster of the oven type comprising a toasting-chamber structure, an outer casing spaced from and surrounding the toasting chamber structure and having an inturned flange at its upper edge, a top cover having a peripheral edge portion received below the inturned flange of the outer casing, a substantially flat-top base below the toasting-chamber structure and the outer casing and having a shouldered flange at its upper face within and near its outer periphery adapted to receive the lower edge ofthe outer casing'and position the same on the base and depending ears on the outer casing adapted to extend through the base and then angularly relatively thereto to draw the top cover against the upper end portion of the toasting-chamber structure.

2. A toaster of the oven type comprising a substantially flat-top base, a toasting-chamber structure located above the base, a top cover having an outwardly-extending peripheral-edge shouldered flange, an outer casing surrounding the toasting-chamber structure and having an inturned flange at its upper edge adapted to fit over the shouldered flange on the top cover and ears integral with the outer casing at its lower edge extending through and cooperating with the base to hold the top cover against the toasting-chamber structure and the casing in proper operative position against the base.

3. A toaster of the oven type comprising a substantially flat-top base having a peripheral vertical flange on its upper face, a toasting-chamber structure supported above the base, a top cover over the toasting-chamber structure and having a peripheral flange at its outer edge, an outer casing surrounding the toasting chamber structure, having its lower edge interfitting with the peripheral vertical flange on thebase and edge adapted to fit over the peripheral flange of the top cover and ears integral with the outer casing at its lower edge and extending through the base to hold the outer casing on the base and the top cover against the toasting-chamber structure.

4. A toaster of the oventype comprising a base, a toaster-frame structure above the base, an outer thin-sheet casing on the base surrounding the frame structure and having an inturned flange at its upper edge, a top cover of thin sheet material having a shouldered flange at its outer periphery adapted to fit below the inturned casing flange and lugs on the casing at its bottom edge extending through the base and bent angularly relatively thereto to yieldingly hold the cover against the upper end portions of the frame structure.

5. A toaster of the oven type comprising a base,

= a toaster frame structure supported above the cured to and located above the base, an outer casing resting on the base surrounding the frame structure and having a flange at its upper edge,

a top cover having a flange at its outer periphery interfitting with the flange of the casing to be held thereby against the frame structure, and means at the bottom edge of the casing interfitting with the base to hold the casing thereon.

7. A toaster of the oven type comprising a base, a toaster frame structure supported above the base, an outer casing resting on the base and surrounding the frame structure, a top cover having its outer periphery interfitting with the outer casing to be held thereby in its proper operative position above the frame structure and means on the outer casing at its bottom edge to engage with the base and hold the casing thereon.

8. A toaster of the oven type comprising a base, a toaster frame structure above the base, an outer casing resting on the base and surrounding the frame and a top cover having its outer periphery interfitting with the outer casing contained therewithin and held thereby in its proper operative position.

9. A toaster of the oven type comprising a base, a toaster frame structure above the base, an outer casing surrounding the frame structure, a top cover located within the periphery of the casing, cooperating interfltting means on the casing and the base to draw the casing toward the baseand hold it relatively thereto and cooperating interfitting means at the upper edge of the casing and at the outer periphery of the cover to hold the cover against the frame structure.

10. A toaster of the oven type comprising a base having an upstanding flange on its upper surface, a toaster frame structure on the base, a single piece casing surrounding the frame, hav ing its lower edge interfitting with said flange on the base and having a laterally inturned flange at its upper edge, a top cover having an outwardly extending flange at its outer periphery adapted to fltbelow the upper edge flange of the casing and means securing the casing to the base and drawing the cover against the upper end portions of the frame structure.

11. A toaster of the oven type comprising a base, a toaster frame structure on the base, an outer casing on the base surrounding the frame structure and having an inturned flange at its upper edge, a top cover having its outer periphery located below the inturned flange of the casing and means at the lower edge of the casing for securing it against the base and for drawing the top cover against the upper end portion of the frame structure.

12. A toaster of the oven type comprising a, base, a toaster frame structureon the base, an outer casing on the base extending around the frame structure, the upper edge of the casing being located below the upper end of the frame structure and having an inturned flange, a cover resting on the upper end of the frame structure and having a depending outer peripheral flange located below the inturned flange of the casing and lugs at the lower edge of the easing extending through the base to hold the casing omthe base and the cover against the frame structure.

13. A toaster of the oven type comprising a base, a toaster frame structure on the base, an open top casing on the base extending around the frame structure, a cover over the frame structure and within the contour of the casing and interfitting means on the top edge of the casing and the outer peripheral edge of the cover and coextensive therewith to cause the casing to hold the cover against the upper end portion of the frame structure.

MURRAY IRELAND. 

